The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-11-10

couldn't stay all night. And its past
| ten"--with another yawn rs she glanced
! up at the clock, all embowered in -
mist of red-berricd asparagus-'.and
! he told me he knew of short cut
across the iields-that gloomy road
you know, under the elms."
"Hes not going home that way
| Alice?"
'.Of course he is!' she replied. at
will shorten the walk half mile at
least, he says"
But that road is not used now"
He is going to use it, at all events,
tonight"
Bob caught up his hat.
"How long has he been gomez" he
asked breathlessly.
About fifteen minutes" said Alice.
'Why."
Bob paused to make no answer, but
rushed out of the door, negleeting, iii
his haste. to close it behind him, so that
gust of rain and wind blew in, flutter-
ing Dilly's newly-laundried curtains
and touching Alices forehead like 4
chilled hand.
She ran out into the kitchen.
"Dilly." she cried, ''has all the world
gone crazy? Why did Bob run out
into the rain without ever answering
my question:?
Dilly dropped her half-fnished
WORK, with vague idea that some re-
mark of Alices had driven her brother
to the last extremity of desperation.
Alice" cried she, what did you
say to bim?"
Nothing. just told him that Mr..
Harper was going to take the short
cut home across the fields"
''There is no short cut" declared
Dilly.
'Yes, there is-that dark road un.
der the elms, you know, just beyond
the old dead tree. where the lahtuing
struck last autumn.
Has he gone that wav?" cried Dillv,
turning deadly pale Didn't you tell
himF Don't he know?"
Alice's lovely. liquid eyes opened to
their full extent.
Il always thought that place looked
as if it were haunted, said she.
"HanntedP Nonseuse! sharply in
terrupted Dilly. But itS's shaking
bog-a regular morass. No one passes
over it nOW-no one has used il since
the night, five years ago. when a Wa
gon and two horses were engulfed in
it. Don't you understand? It's sort
of quicksand-the swamp-and Bob
dear, generous Bob!-has gone to try
and save that mans life, if he can.
Gracious me! WHAT'S the matter with
the girlP do believe she has tainted!
Well, if she thinks as much of the City
fellow as that"
Aud poor Dilly's heart turned to lead
in her bosom.
1t was midnight when Robert Rock
ingham came back with Mr.. Manfred
Harper, both of them very pale and
mud-stained.
1T was a narrow squeeze for it, !"
said the City yonng man. who had a
startled, panic-stricken look in his
eyes. Il was sinking in that treacher-
Gus hole with the lightning blazing in
my eyes, and an owl shrieking like
doomed spirit overhead. 1t seemed
exactly as if there were real hands
pulling me down into the morass.
can't tell what a blessed sensation it
was when | heard Rockingham. here,
hallOoinS to me. How he pulled he
out l don't know. l think he must
have the courage of a Samson and the
strength of Hercules.
just then the parlor door opened.
Alice peeped out, with her bright hair
hanging over her eyes.
.'Bob?' she said, shyly.
Robert pushed Harper forward.
Here he is." said he. 1--we saved
his life for you, Alice"
I'm very glad, I'm sure, said Alice
hurriedly. ''But-Bob?"
"Yes. Pm going up stairs at once,
to get dry things for him, said Rock
ingham.
"Oh, yes, know! but can't you
| speak to me one moment, Bob?" plead
ed the soft voice.
Mr.. Harper and the inflexible Dilly
were left standing rather awkwardly
outside, while Robert obeyed Alice's
summons. She shut the door, and
| then threw herself sobbing on his
| breast.
'.Oh. Bob! oh, Bob! l am so thank
fulr' she sobbed. Il don't know what
| to say, but"
Take care, he said gently. You'll
get your pink frock all muddy"
II don't care for frocks. Oh, Bot
Il understand it all, Alice. You
| love nllli anu you are grateful W uie
because l have been lucky enough to
save his life"
Il don't love him. cried Alice,
His life, indeedl What is his life to
me? But if anything had happened tc
vou, Bob"
A sudden light broke on Robert
| Rockingham's troubled heart.
.'Alice" he cried Alice, for Heav
ems sake. don't raise my hopes only tt
wreck them again. Is it possible that
you can care for me?"
She raised the marvellous eyes again
fringed with silk-Soft lashes, To hi,
face.
"Is it possible" she prettily MIN
icked him, THAT YOU have not discov'
cred before this that | love yOu!
Where have your eyes been, you blind
Bob?"
Mr.. Harper returned to the City
next day, with very strong impress
sion of the snares and pitfalls of coun
try life Alice Ames remained. thu
affianced bride of Robert Rocking
But why didn't YOU tell him before
that you loved him?" said plain-spoker
DiIly.
How could 1, said Alice, "wher
nobody asked ~"